David Beadle and his Auckland, New Zealand synthpop outfit is back with a sophomore effort that favors ambient soundscapes over the upbeat, dance vibe of their debut album. Beadle does induce a steady head-nod throughout the record by blending deep synth and electric frequencies to create a booming tone that helps perpetuate the undeniable moodiness. His sonic depth is especially impressive on the tracks “Waltz” and “Rolling Waves,” where he carries the rhythm under melodic vocals.

While the bass work of AFI’s Hunter Burgan has always been dark and moody to match the vibe of his hardcore/punk outfit’s sound, his playing on the band’s ninth studio album shows a previously undiscovered melodic side.

For most bands, calling a five-song album an LP would be a stretch, but this Norwegian nine-piece experimental jazz/rock outfit takes listeners on quite a musical journey over the course of its seventh disc.

All People is certainly the most heavily produced, studio programmed album yet from Michael Franti and his roots-reggae fusion outfit, but that’s not to say that bassist Carl Young doesn’t have a heavy hand on the record.